Earlier this year, the family-owned company solicited nominations from across the Greater Heights area for deserving people in need of a new furnace. The nominations were narrowed down to a list of five finalists, from which the winner was randomly selected.

Daugherty has been a Cleveland Heights resident since 1979. A single mother of four, and grandmother to seven, she is retired but recently took a part-time job to make ends meet.

Her 50-year-old furnace stopped working during one of the worst storms of the past winter. While a neighbor was able to help her get it working intermittently, she was left without heat on many nights.

Daugherty said she is thankful to Verne & Ellsworth Hann for offering the furnace giveaway, and added that it couldn't have come at a better time.

The furnace installation includes all materials and labor, and is valued at approximately $3,000.

Verne & Ellsworth Hann, a fifth-generation family-owned company, created the Helping Hann contest to assist people in need. Owned and operated by brothers Bill and Chris Hann, the HVAC and plumbing company has serviced Cleveland Heights and the surrounding areas for more than 63 years.

“We want to share our good fortune by giving back to the community that’s been good to our family all these years," Chris Hann said. The Helping-Hann free furnace contest is the highlight of the company’s year. We are grateful to provide heat for someone in need and look forward to continuing the tradition.”

Verne & Ellsworth Hann is located in Cleveland Heights at 2026 Lee Road.